work 1 of 2

1
2
3
as in to serve
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to perform
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6
as in to operate
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

7
8

work

2 of 2

noun

1
as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production unfortunately, many of her works are now out of print

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
5
6
as in factory
works plural a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun work contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of work are drudgery, grind, labor, toil, and travail. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

In what contexts can drudgery take the place of work?

The meanings of drudgery and work largely overlap; however, drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When might grind be a better fit than work?

The synonyms grind and work are sometimes interchangeable, but grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When could labor be used to replace work?

The words labor and work are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

When is toil a more appropriate choice than work?

The words toil and work can be used in similar contexts, but toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When is it sensible to use travail instead of work?

Although the words travail and work have much in common, travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of work
Verb
Traders work on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) floor on Feb. 20, 2025 in New York City. Bob Pisani, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2025 But in the end, Mackintosh isn’t wrong, that most — maybe not all — of these show tunes work as stand-alones… especially the tear-stirrers. Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
In Frame’s work, self-articulation is a kind of infinity, hitched to other kinds, like love or death. Audrey Wollen, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2025 The Marshall product, who led the FBS with 17 sacks, can put his head down, go to work and fit in nicely on a small-market team with plenty to prove. David Ubben, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • Skin rashes, sudden allergies, hypersensitivity, and re-emerging latent viruses like the kind that cause mononucleosis and herpes are common among space crews.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2025
  • These medications kill the bacteria that caused the infection.
    Sarah Hudgens, Health, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • With his cozy storefront nestled in London’s Archangel Lane, Book offers his services to the local police, helping solve the most intricate cases.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 25 Feb. 2025
  • In some cases, marinating or cooking can solve this problem.
    Caroline Tien, SELF, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Musk, who serves as President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting chief, teased the extraordinary request on his social media network on Saturday.
    Steve Peoples, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
  • For past Congresses and administrations, including the first Trump term, DEI concepts were not controversial, said Neal F. Lane, who served as NSF director in the 1990s and as a science adviser to former President Bill Clinton.
    Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • According to a probable-cause affidavit obtained by NJ.com, troopers performing a load securement check asked to examine how the tractor-trailer’s doors were sealed.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Other performances were more obviously cathartic, such as the aptly named ‘Emergency Concert’ performed by Treppenhaus Quartet from Germany.
    Anna Haines, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The severity of this year’s flu season is driven by a combination of factors, experts suggested.
    Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025
  • The state Department of Public Utilities has yet to respond to Maura Healey’s letter calling for the agency to take immediate action to alleviate surging energy prices that critics say are driven by the governor’s hostility towards natural gas.
    Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The streaming service operates in about half the territories of major competitors Netflix and Disney, but expects to roughly match their reach over time, according to company spokespeople.
    David Bloom, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Believed to be built in 1928, the building operated as the Jacobs Cleaners Building under owner Meyer O. Jacobs when it was listed in the Green Book.
    Justin L. Mack, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Courtney Eaton is still struggling to accept Lottie’s fate while playing the character’s teen counterpart in the ’90s wilderness.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman,wife Betsy Arakawa, found dead in their home Gene Hackman's health struggles: What is angina?
    Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Then, during Donald Trump’s first term, Michael remembers a meeting when a seasonal worker came out as transgender and asked the staff to use he/him pronouns.
    Madison Pauly, Them, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Other initiatives include the return of free refills (for in-store customers) and its condiments bar and requiring customers to make purchases to use the restrooms.
    Moná Thomas, People.com, 24 Feb. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on work

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!